12 Years A Slave Will Hit Blu-ray And DVD In Just A Few Weeks

January is a notably bad month for movies. February, however, is a massive step in the right direction. There are acceptable and sometimes awesome movies released, the awards season heats up and some of last year’s biggest and boldest movies finally land on to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. One of these upcoming releases is 12 Years A Slave, a harrowing but critical darling of a film that will be released in Digital HD format on February 18. If you are a fan of physical copies of movies, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is also bringing Steve McQueen’s film onto Blu-ray and DVD on March 4.

Not all of us were able to see the movie in theaters, but 12 Years A Slave offers fans an in-depth look at the life and times of one Solomon Northrup, an educated and steadfast free man who, through a series of unfortunate events, ends up enslaved in the south. His experiences in slavery waffle between horrifying and disheartening, made more painful for those audience members who understand that Northrup was a real individual living in the United States who eventually compiled his accounts into an 1853 memoir.

The film has received plenty of accolades thus far, including awards from the American Film Institute and the Best Motion Picture – Drama Award at the Golden Globes. 12 Years A Slave has also been nominated for 9 Academy Awards. Accolades don’t necessarily mean a movie will be in every viewers’ wheelhouse, but there are only a few movies released each year with as much emotional impact as 12 Years A Slave, and I highly suggest giving the film a little attention, even if it’s not a "fun" view.

Still, where the film lacks in smiles, though it has a few, it more than makes up for in brilliant acting performances and frank realism. Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o and Chiwetel Ejiofor were all nominated for acting Oscars and Sarah Paulson easily could have joined them. Together, they’re quite possibly the most impressive group seen on screen in all of 2013, and with McQueen’s careful hand, they’re all able to shine as brightly as possible.

As far as Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s set goes, there won’t be a ton of bells and whistles with the set. Those who spring for the Blu-ray will get more of an historical perspective in the extras, otherwise the sets have the same bonus features. You can pre-order the movie over at Amazon, or check out the full list of bonus features, below.